Kirkman Lofts, a residential conversion project that is nearing completion at 37 Bridge Street in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, was an old soap factory and the developer has used its original silos as a centerpiece of the design.
According to a recent NYI report by Jill Urban the project manager for the building, Colin Carpenter, said that "there are large cylinders, and they ran from the basement to the fifth floor of the building," adding that "they were sliced horizontally to work with the apartment plans" and were "exposed as much of the silos as possible, including in the corridors" where "each door is located within a curved section of one of the silos."
"Pieces of metal drums can also be seen as design accents within the apartments, and some were even used as walls," the article said, adding that "all the kitchen countertops are made from reclaimed wood from the original factory."
The 7-story building was erected in 1915 and contains 45 apartments, many with sunken living rooms. The development includes three four-story townhouses with private entrances, elevators and roof decks.
The building was erected for the Kirkman & Son Soap Company and Robert M. Scarano Jr. was the architect for the conversion 37 Bridge Street LLC of which Barry Singer is a partner.
Apartment kitchens have Baltic birch wood cabinetry, Bertrazzoni ranges and black LG or Kitchen-Aid refrigerators. The apartments also have large multi-paned windows and the penthouses and townhomes have skylights.
The building also has video doorman service, package and delivery storages, bicycle and private storage and a fitness center.
According to a recent NYI report by Jill Urban the project manager for the building, Colin Carpenter, said that "there are large cylinders, and they ran from the basement to the fifth floor of the building," adding that "they were sliced horizontally to work with the apartment plans" and were "exposed as much of the silos as possible, including in the corridors" where "each door is located within a curved section of one of the silos."
"Pieces of metal drums can also be seen as design accents within the apartments, and some were even used as walls," the article said, adding that "all the kitchen countertops are made from reclaimed wood from the original factory."
The 7-story building was erected in 1915 and contains 45 apartments, many with sunken living rooms. The development includes three four-story townhouses with private entrances, elevators and roof decks.
The building was erected for the Kirkman & Son Soap Company and Robert M. Scarano Jr. was the architect for the conversion 37 Bridge Street LLC of which Barry Singer is a partner.
Apartment kitchens have Baltic birch wood cabinetry, Bertrazzoni ranges and black LG or Kitchen-Aid refrigerators. The apartments also have large multi-paned windows and the penthouses and townhomes have skylights.
The building also has video doorman service, package and delivery storages, bicycle and private storage and a fitness center.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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